Ingrown toenails are a common condition, causing pain and sometimes infection in the grooves of skin where the nail edges sit.
The nail edge can pierce the sensitive skin in these groves, causing a localised wound which can easily become infected. This can be due to the shape of the nail being too curved, or due to the nail being cut too aggressively down the sides. The toe can appear red and swollen, and sometimes have a discharge. This is extremely painful – when wearing shoes, walking, even sleeping as the bedcovers push down on the affected area. Sometimes antibiotics are required to settle the infection, and sometimes a small surgical procedure is performed by the Podiatrist (under local anaesthetic) to reshape the nail so it no longer causes any problems.
The edges of the nails can also be the site of corns and calluses which can be exquisitely painful – but these are much less likely to get infected, respond well to Podiatrist treatment and do not require antibiotics.
Ingrown toenails are a common condition, causing pain and sometimes infection in the grooves of skin where the nail edges sit.
The nail edge can pierce the sensitive skin in these groves, causing a localised wound which can easily become infected. This can be due to the shape of the nail being too curved, or due to the nail being cut too aggressively down the sides. The toe can appear red and swollen, and sometimes have a discharge. This is extremely painful – when wearing shoes, walking, even sleeping as the bedcovers push down on the affected area. Sometimes antibiotics are required to settle the infection, and sometimes a small surgical procedure is performed by the Podiatrist (under local anaesthetic) to reshape the nail so it no longer causes any problems.
The edges of the nails can also be the site of corns and calluses which can be exquisitely painful – but these are much less likely to get infected, respond well to Podiatrist treatment and do not require antibiotics.
Ingrown toenails are a common condition, causing pain and sometimes infection in the grooves of skin where the nail edges sit.
The nail edge can pierce the sensitive skin in these groves, causing a localised wound which can easily become infected. This can be due to the shape of the nail being too curved, or due to the nail being cut too aggressively down the sides. The toe can appear red and swollen, and sometimes have a discharge. This is extremely painful – when wearing shoes, walking, even sleeping as the bedcovers push down on the affected area. Sometimes antibiotics are required to settle the infection, and sometimes a small surgical procedure is performed by the Podiatrist (under local anaesthetic) to reshape the nail so it no longer causes any problems.
The edges of the nails can also be the site of corns and calluses which can be exquisitely painful – but these are much less likely to get infected, respond well to Podiatrist treatment and do not require antibiotics.
